A vote by the two committees was anticipated to take place after the consideration of amendments. The committees, anticipating a large crowd and several amendments, convened at noon.

Gov. Martin O'Malley used Twitter on Friday to muster citizen lobbyists, urging them to tell legislators the time for action is now on gun control. A video attachment comprised part of a national gun control campaign financed by New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, and the appeal came on the second day of House committees deciding the fate of the legislation.

"Take out, as a feature, a telescope stock. Take out, as a feature, pistol grips," said Montgomery County Delegate Kathleen Dumais, D-District 15, vice chairwoman of the House Judiciary Committee.

The joint House committee is considering carving out a limited number of copycat assault-style weapons from the governor's proposed ban on all of them.

Semiautomatic weapons, popular with sportsmen and hunters, would grandfathered in for those who already own assault-style weapons, and for those who purchased them before the law took effect.

"We might actually have, as of Oct. 1, 100,000 assault weapons in the state which will be grandfathered, in which will be legal," said Montgomery County Delegate Luiz Simmons, D-District 17.

The committees voted in favor of a $50 charge in licensing fees. The amount in the Senate version was much lower. An amendment to strike the firearms training requirement generated spirited debate. Supporters cited concerns that there aren't enough firearm ranges to meet demand in a timely way.

"We know, as a state, that it is logistically a nightmare, and I'm afraid it could wind up being a de facto gun ban if you can't comply with these types of provisions," said Eastern Shore Delegate Mike McDermott, R-District 38B.

"There is no parade of horrors. There's not one single incident where you can come in and say, 'You know what? This person didn't know how to use a firearm. They bought it and shot themselves in the foot,'" said Eastern Shore Delegate Mike Smigiel, R-District 36.

The House committees are debating the mental health aspect of the bill as well. Individuals voluntarily committed would be allowed to petition the right to own a gun provided health care professionals sign off on it.

"It's a decision made with the Department of Health and Human Hygiene," said Baltimore City Delegate Peter Hammen, D-District 46, chairman of the Health and Government Operations Committee.

The committees are expected to make minor changes to the bill before sending it to the full House. The issue is expected to dominate discussion on the House floor for much of the final week of the session.